As I write this article, it has just been a few minutes since I watched the parsonage as it was pulled out of the front lawn, onto Cook Road, and then hauled to its new location. Needless to say, there were a lot of memories and emotions. For both Bev and me, each of us lived in that house longer than we lived in any house in our lives. Our daughters grew up in that houses, all four of our parents visitied us in that house, and we welcomed our first five grandchildren in that house. As I noew look at the exposded basement, I think of playing ping-pong with Jon down there, running down there hundreds of times to get something out of the pantry for Bev, and even going down there several times for shelter during tornado warnings–and arguing with Bev about which corner of the basement was supposed to be the safest.
I also think of the idiosyncracies of the house–the light switch that didn’t control anything, the bedroom ceiling lights that had no light switch, and the creak in the stair steps that made it impossible for me to sneak into bed without waking up Bev. There was the patio fence that enabled me to climb into the bathroom window when I got locked out and that enabled one of our cats to jump up on the roof, go all the way over to the south side and sit in front of Allison’s bedroom window and start meowing in the middle of the night, scaring the daylights out of her.
It is obviously true that buildings–whether they be houses or churches–are just inanimate objects of wood and stone. But, it is just as obvious that they are so much more. Over time, we truly develop a relationship with our buildings. Though inanimate, they still become important parts of our lives. In short, they are incredible blessings given to us by God. Like anything else, they can also become idos, more important to us than God, and taking our attention from God and turning it onto themselves. One of our challenges as Christians is to respect and honor our buildings without deflecting our focus on God.
I am so thankful to God for the 16+ years we were able to live in the parsonage, and I am thankful that I am able to be part of this church community that has the privilege of renewing and enlarging God’s house in our midst.
